Would Jesus be a Republican?

Joshua 5:14

And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?”

So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.”

I will leave it to the reader to go investigate the rest of the story in the book of Joshua; it is quite cool (well, for the Israelites it’s cool, but for those in Jericho who opposed God, let’s just say they had a bad week).

Notice the interaction between Joshua and the angel. Joshua is full of power, ready for battle, and he sees a man he knows is not an ordinary man. God gave Joshua orders to lead Israel into battle. So he challenges this man with a question. Then, when he realizes he is talking to an Angel of the Lord - if not the Lord himself, in humility he quickly obeys. What an awesome place to be, full of the energy for the Lord, and able to stay humble. Joshua was an amazing man.

But, that is not what this story is about. As the title already suggests, it is about the angel’s response!

I have been fascinated by this text for years. Notice the response of the angel, when challenged by Joshua as to whose side he was on, it seemed obvious to me the first time I was reading this, that the angel was going to say “Duh Josh, I’m with you buddy! Let’s go get ’em…” But he does not do that. In fact he tells Joshua that he is not on Joshua's side.  I can imagine Joshua readying his sword until he hears the rest of that sentence.

You see, the angel basically said, “Joshua, I am not on your side. I am not on their side either. You are completely missing the point! From my vantage point there is only one true side to be on, and that is the Lord’s side. And, I have no intention of changing that!”

What an amazing answer. This way, no matter what happened in Joshua’s life, or in Jericho, the angel was on God’s side and would never ally himself elsewhere. Had the angel said he was on Joshua’s side and Joshua went off on a tangent, Joshua could get angry at the angel for not following. “But I thought you are for me?” he could say.

Although this passage can be used in so many instances, I can see it flesh out this voting season as Facebook is covered with people (including me) that are putting out reasons why their candidate is the right choice. 

Whose side is God on? The GOP? The left wing? Radicals? Liberal Democrats? Ah… the answer is obvious, right? 

Gotcha ya! NO!

I am 100% convinced that Jesus is neither a Republican, a Democrat, or a Libertarian or any other political persuasion. To reduce the God of the Universe to a political party is absurd and is laughable just writing it. I can see within all three parties there are qualities that God would agree with, and there are tenants that I know He abhors. I can prove it too. But, it would be silly to stack up the list. The one with the most qualities wins God's favor? Not happening. The answer is NO.

It is safer for us to say that an action, or tenant, or creed, honors God, or it does not. But be able to back that up with examples in the Bible. I think I can do that for all three major political parties.

I am quick to say that I want to be on the Lord's side, but that does not mean Jesus is a Grand Old Party member. This also means that when I disagree with something within my party and I am asked whose side I’m on, I have an excellent answer! 

I’m on the Lord’s side.

Shalom

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1
Wow. This verse is packed!
Beginning-

Indicates there was a start to this process we now live in, and God was there before it all happened.

God- 

Not seen in the english, but the word used for "God" smacks of the Trinity. 

It is interesting to note that at the time this verse is speaking about: no angels existed, no heaven existed, no earth existed, only God! 

Yet he uses the word "Elohim", instead of YHWH (Yahway). Plural. There was nothing in existance at the time to be plural with except Himself. So when some Jewish scholars try to lump the angels into the definition because they refuse to see God as plural, they have no argument to fall back on in this verse. 

"In the Beginning..... GOD." Peroid.

Created- 

E=MC2, Einstein proved that mass is light encapsulated. We use this equation to prove how much power we can get out of a lump of uranium.  When it is fissioning, it produces a lot of light. 

In other words: Energy is equal to the mass times the speed of light squared. Juggling the equation and light is equal to the square root of energy divided by mass. 

SO WHAT DIRK!

God is light. He slowed down his light and it became visible mass. God said "let there be light"

I could go on, but... why?

Heavens- 

All around us- visible and invisible. The word there is plural too. Sky, space, galaxies, etc. 

Earth- 

Current science wants to marginalize our existence. (Sounds a bit like what Satan is trying to do with God and with us too).

They are trying to do that to indicate that this planet is just a freak accident of the cosmos. 

When in fact, it is not; this earth was not a freak accident, nor a duplication- it is a unique closed system designed to support life. It took millions of terebytes of computations to develop the mass, densities, concentrations of different elements, the proper gravitational pull, the location of the moon, or distance to the sun, not to leave out the complex design of a living organism in order to make a sustainable, functioning life support system we live in. To date, we have yet to find another, and we have been looking feverishly. How long did it take God to do it all? not sure, but it sure is amazing. What we long to understand, He knows in great detail. We give Him glory when we figure it out. Hmmm.... sounds like another verse- "It is to the glory of God to conceal a matter, it is to the glory of kings to search it out." (Proverbs 25:2) 

(Another interesting fact of science- We use the word "Universe" when talking about the cosmos. This is a Greek word translated to "One-Sentence". Which is a direct reference to Genesis 1:1. Ha! I love it that many of the early fathers of physics saw the harmony of our existence and the God who created it, and gave Him the credit for all that is when we look out into space.)

Shalom.

Test for Tammy

Can you comment of this honey?

The Wisdom of Solomon

I was studying 1 Kings, chapter 3 this week and it got me to thinking. The chapter starts with King Solomon’s reign. He has a vision of the Lord in a dream and when asked by God what he wanted, he asked for wisdom to serve the people of God. God granted him his desire.

The first recorded test of his new gift starts in verse 16:

Now two women who were harlots came to the king, and stood before him. ¹⁷And one woman said, “O my lord, this woman and I dwell in the same house; and I gave birth while she was in the house. ¹⁸Then it happened, the third day after I had given birth, that this woman also gave birth. And we were together; no one was with us in the house, except the two of us in the house. ¹⁹And this woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on him. ²⁰So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from my side, while your maidservant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. ²¹And when I rose in the morning to nurse my son, there he was, dead. But when I had examined him in the morning, indeed, he was not my son whom I had borne.”

The rest of the story I will abbreviate: the other woman argues that the first woman is lying. Solomon decided to test both women and holds up the living child to be cut in two. The real mom cries out to spare her son. The other woman, bitter for her loss, could care less and told him cut up her son. Solomon’s action exposes the truth of who the real mother is. The story of this judgment travels across Israel.

Now, I’m not as wise as Solomon because something jumps out at me that is the cause of all this mess: they are prostitutes! Although one of the oldest professions in the world, it certainly is not look upon as a reputable one; at least not in the Bible.

Why doesn’t Solomon address this? I can just hear the mumbling going on in the background of the chambers… “If they were married and at home, this would not be an issue...” I know that thought crossed my mind. Shame on me too for being that way!

We do not know what happened to the woman whose son was spared? Did she go back to the profession? My guess is she did not return to the place where she lived with the other woman who tried to kidnap her son.

In addressing the issue in wisdom, all of Israel feared the king and praised God for it. I appreciate seeing this wisdom.

What can I learn from this? Two harlots came to Solomon; women who were selling their bodies for money. The king did not demand they stop their profession; he did not talk down to them because of whom they were. He simply addressed the issue at hand: getting a child back to his rightful mother. He gracefully handled an almost no win situation.

As a husband, a father, a grandfather, and now a boss, I need to have that same grace and wisdom to handle situations in my life. God, hear my prayer!

Taking on a name.

Heard an interesting sermon today on the ancient practice of a blood covenant:
http://www.youtube.com/user/pastormikebranch#p/u/0/Q2zYZ6SB2FI
It is a great listen. In it, Pastor Mike speaks of 9 aspects of a blood covenant and how in Christ, He fulfilled it for us.

But there is one aspect that really caught my attention- the taking on of each others names. When two people would take on a blood covenant, they also took on part of each others names.

In Genesis 15 God is declaring the promise He made with Abram back in chapter 12. This time he is using the blood covenant ritual. He continues it in Chapter 17 by commanding Abram to be circumcised.

He then changed Abrams name by inserting his name, "yah", to Abram's name. Yah is a breath sound, it is one of the names of God from which we get Jehovah and others:

Abr-"ah"-am

God also changes Sarai to Sar-"ah".

I knew about the name change, but never the "ah" being a name for God, a derivative of "Yah".
Now, when I see the name Abraham, I now can see God in Abrams life.

It does not stop there either…

Have you ever noticed how God calls himself the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In a sense, He added them to His name too.

Over 50 times in the Bible God refers to Himself as their God.

The deeper I dive into the word, the more beautiful it is.

John 14:8-9

Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father…”


While on vacation, Tammy and I are studying John 14-16. We have both read this many times, but as the living word is true to its statement, it is fresh and living and active so we are enjoying it again for the first time. (Hebrews 4:12)

It was interesting what Phillip asked, but even more interesting was Jesus' response!

Earlier in the same book  the writer recounts the discussion with the woman at the well. Jesus tells her that “God is Spirit…” (John 4:24). That may not be new to many, but to me it sparked a thought:

In order for Phillip to see the Father, the Father would have to show himself. If God is spirit, he cannot show himself for the spirit is not physical. The only way the physical can see the spiritual is if one becomes the other. Either Phillip becomes a spirit by leaving his body, or the spiritual makes a physical manifestation by taking on physical form.

God chose to show the world his spiritual character by making a physical manifestation in the form of Jesus (John 1:1).

Jesus’ response was a declaration of His Deity to Phillip. “Phillip… I am God, I have come to you in flesh.”

Now to the western mind we wish Jesus would have just said it that plainly. But to Phillip, that is what he did say!

Later, after the ressurrection, Thomas would fall on his knees and cry out, “my Lord and my God” as he viewed the risen Christ.

We will see Him in this form again soon.

Blessings

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Cool.
I can be rich, I can be a movie star, I can have a wonderful vacation, I will have obedient children. How? Because of Christ!


Uhm…. Not really.


This can be an over used, poorly applied verse. When the word ALL is used, it means ALL. But the ALL is within the context of what the subject matter is. Paul in writing his benediction to the Philippian church is reminding them of his ministry. He has learned in all things, whether being ship wrecked, imprisoned, or when everything is going great, that he gets his strength from Jesus.


The focus of the sentence is that in the struggles of ministry, he has been able to endure through Christ. We can apply the same: When our kids make decisions that you know will eventually hurt them, God carries you through this. When the marriage is going through struggles, Christ gives strength. When everything is going well, thank God for his enduring power to provide.


When we focus our attention to our ministry in life (how we serve God, which could be as a mom, a worker, a missionary, a store clerk, and in my case a boiler operator) our strength comes from Him!


Shalom.

John 8:42-44

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God…you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil.

It appears that Jesus never read Andrew Carnegie’s book, how to win friends and influence people.


Can you imagine the tension created when Jesus said this? Here is the scene:


The year is 32 A.D. Jesus and his disciples are in the Temple. The religious leaders have just tested Him by throwing a woman caught in adultery in front of Him (first time only one person was caught- nothing political about that move, Eh?).


Now the discussion shifts to Jesus’ authority. Helps to remember that these political and religious leaders rule the day (With Rome’s permission of course). They are in control of all the activities of the people, what they eat, how they pray, were they work, who they marry, etc. To get to this position they have gone through at least 15 years of intense training and political maneuvering; scratching and clawing their way to the top. Now this itinerant preacher from some dinky penal town called Nazareth comes with a bunch of dropouts and tells them they are of the devil?


Why? Because they did not believe Him when He said that He was God!


But sometimes direct confrontation is what is necessary! Jesus called these hypocrites out many times. He did not intentionally stir the pot, but He purposefully set things straight! He smacked religiousity in the face declaring it to be the hideous stench that it is!


Awesome!


We have many so called "Christian" churches and movements that claim they are the cat's meow when it comes to being God's representation on this earth. But can you imagine Jesus donning their garments, or practices, and performing their rituals? Or, would He be walking into thier board meetings and calling them of the Devil?


Makes me go "Hmmmm."


Shalom.

Psalm 69:6

Let not those who wait for You, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed because of me.

Psalm 69 is another messianic psalm. 


Matthew 27 fulfills the prophecy of verse 21 when they gave gall for Jesus to drink while on the cross (gall was a type of pain reliever so the person would live longer).


 John 2:17 quotes verse when Jesus cleared the temple on Palm Sunday- “Zeal for Your house will consume me.” 


Verse 11 reveals that the messiah wore sackcloth, a sign of humility and mourning and repentance.This psalm also reveals another truth: Has anybody ever asked you where you will spend eternity? I grew up saying “heaven”.


Fact is, we will spend eternity on earth. A new earth, a new heaven, a new Jerusalem (Zion).
(Revelation 21:1)


The psalm ends with this promise: And those who love His name shall dwell in it. I want a room with a view!


Shalom.

1 Cor 15:45

“The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.


Controversial Point- When Adam sinned, did he commit cosmic treason, or did he save his wife?

We know that both sinned, Eve via deception, Adam via choice. But, Paul tells us that Jesus was a type of Adam! What was meant by that? Could it be that Adam understood the redemptive plan and knew that there was no other way?

I have always been told that Adam sinned against God as a willful act of disobedience; willfully rebellion. I don't by it. Don't get me wrong, the end result is exactly the same: the immediate change of the human condition from saint to sinner separated from God and dead spiritually. 

Adams response, now tainted with sin set the stage for how most of us respond when caught in our own sin.... "It's not my fault!" It was your fault God.

Why do I think this is more than just an interesting thought? Because the writer called Jesus a type of Adam, putting the time between Adam and Jesus as bookend event: Saint, to sinner, to Saint again. Through the obedience of the Son, those who believe are saved!

Adam, who was alive, died spiritually to save his bride who was deceived.

Jesus, who was dead, rose to life to save His bride and lead her in the truth once again.

Makes me thankful God loves me. 

Phillipians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

“Meditate.” The Greek word for this is “logizomai” – to consider, meditate, recon. It is used many times, but one particular use is interesting: Romans 4:22 when discussing how God “accounted” (logizomai) righteousness to Abraham because of his faith.

When God “accounted” an act of faith to Abraham, it was a done deal. God never goes back on His word. When the writer of Philippians uses this word, he is not making a suggestion, he is gently commanding the church to “account” these things: 

Those things that are noble, just, pure, lovely…

Why? Because we are what we think! When we focus our attention on great things, our eyes get open to the great things that are happening. That is not a health and wealth mentality, you are not speaking them into existence, they are already happening, but your eyes will now see them. And when spending all your time doing this, there is no time left for doubt, fear, anger, depression, etc.

It is a mental exercise which takes practice to do, but ask the Holy Spirit to help.

Shalom

Gen 12:7

Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

There are several accounts in the book of Genesis were Abraham moved to a new area, or God did a remarkable thing, and his response was to build an altar.


For Abraham, an altar was simply a pile of rocks in which a fire was kindled and an innocent animal sacrificed on. It is a constant reminder of God’s provision of forgiveness. It was a precursor to the innocent sacrifice of the coming Christ.


The altar was a place to remember, to worship, and to sacrifice to God for his goodness. It was a place that could be returned to, which Abraham and his descendants did many times to remind them of the promise made, or the victory won, or the dream given, etc.


Quite possibly a visitor to the camp would see the pile of rocks and wonder why this God wanted it so simple: why not elaborate temples, towering monuments, statues, etc? 


As we go to our houses of worship today, may we remember that it is the sacrifice He made which opened the door for our fellowship with him, not the elaborate edifice erected.


I’m so glad my Father in Heaven did the work, because I know I could even mess up putting a pile of rocks together.


Shalom.

1 Chronicles 5:25-26

And they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers, and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria… He carried the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into captivity. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan to this day.

75% of the book of 1 Chronicles is just that, a list of names, chapter after chapter. The lists are very important at times, but quite frankly, most of the time I do not go there. But in between those lists are gems that make me go “hmmm?”  In this section, three tribes of Israel, after taking possession of the land God allotted to them, settled in and then became like the world around them. To the neighbors it was no big deal, just another family moving into the hood. But to God, the Israelites were to be different, by their very nature they were to stand out; they were His! How did God deal with them? “If you want to be like them, you will feel the sting of their lifestyle.” God gave power to an unbelieving king who took them into slavery. At the writing of the book of 1 Chronicles, they were still in captivity.

God will use unbelievers for His purposes too! Can you think of a time when an unbeliever was more righteous than you in their action? Or a time when their rebuke was right on the mark? You betcha. How should we respond? Well, Hebrews 13:8 says that God is unchanging; So, if He uses unbelievers in the past to correct His children of old, He is still doing it today. Grow from it, get up, stand tall in repentance and begin to act like God has called you to act: like a Christian and not like the world. It is that simple. Notice- There is no formula of what that action is- you already know, that is between you and your Father in heaven.

Enjoy life!

Ruth 1:16

But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.

During the time of the Judges in Israel there was a famine that caused people to leave Israel and travel to get food. Naomi traveled to what we now call Jordan with her husband and two son’s. Her boys married Moabite women (A big no-no for Jews). Her husband died and so did her two sons.


Deciding to return to Israel she sends her now widowed daughter-in-law on their way. But Ruth will not go. She wants to return to Israel with Naomi. Ruth saw that the God Naomi served, even in hard times, was the real God of the universe.


They are hungry, Naomi lost her two boys and her husband in a country not her own, and now she has another mouth to feed. It was not easy, but God provided.


The rest of the book is powerful. Ruth, through her humbly listening to Naomi eventually gets married. Who is her great-grandson? King David, whom we know to eventually be in the lineage of Jesus the Messiah.


Peter tells us to humble ourselves before God, and He will exalt us (1Peter 5:6). We will not be in the lineage of the Messiah, but we are his children, and glorious things happen when we humbly believe and serve God like Ruth did.

Shalom

1 John 5:13

I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life…

Have you ever wondered why some of the books of the Bible have been written? John plainly states that he wrote his letter to the church to assure them that there is no way they could ever lose what they were given in Christ. Early in Church history the thought started that if you get out of line, make mistakes, or don’t follow the Law that God will forsake you and leave you and send you to hell; you just won’t know until you get there. Sound Familiar?  Church politics haven’t changed much in 2000 years, eh?

Last night in church the pastor shared many verses in the psalms that present God as our REFUGE, a place where we hide ourselves. He protects us in all things. Life can be tough. I know that many of the struggles I face today were brought upon myself by my own dumb choices. I am so glad that even though I have done much of this to myself, I have also been protected by God from my own disasters. I have a refuge in Him that I have eternal life. When doubts arise, I can look to the words in the Bible and find strength. Shalom.

Malachi 1:6

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence?”

This section of Malachi is rightfully used to talk about giving back to God what is already His. Israel was required to give 10% plus offerings to the Lord. God had blessed them, but they became greedy in their abundance and the small portion He asked for in return was too much to give back. But, that is not my focus, as these daily interactions usually go. Can you hear the heart of a father hurt because they are neglecting Him? We are created in God’s image, so take any of the feelings you may have, even jealousy, and apply them to God, because they came from Him. He “feels” them too. I read Malachi and I wonder how many times I have hurt my Father in heaven because I have been neglectful of those things he longs for in me: like time with Him (in prayer and reading the Bible), worship, and adoration. God is a mountain of strength and there is nothing physically I can give Him because it is all His to begin with. But when I give Him my love, like I do to Tammy, my kids, my friends, and my parents to name a few, I can almost hear a heavenly “I love you too.”

Acts 28:2-3

And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire…

The focus of this passage could be what I left out: a viper bit Paul and nothing happened to him. The viper paid for his deed by getting thrown into the fire. Instead, here is my focus: Paul, An Apostle of Jesus, starter of more churches than can be counted; A Pastor of pastors, a mentor of many; writer of over half the New Testament. What is he doing? After several weeks at sea, getting ship wrecked because the people would not listen to him, he is getting firewood: He is serving others. To Paul, his desire was to be like Jesus, and Jesus would have got firewood.

How simple, and yet profound it is, to maintain a heart of a servant your entire life. I find great joy in touching people’s lives by helping them. The blessing I receive in return? I had almost 20 people drive over an hour to help Tammy and me unload a 26-foot truck in less than 30 minutes (with only one day’s warning). How cool is that! Praise God I have many around me who desire to collect “firewood” too!

Shalom

1 Thess 4:3

For this is the will of God, your sanctification

Have you ever lain in bed pondering, “What is God’s will for my life?” I know I have. “What if I get it wrong?” “I won’t meet the right spouse, find the right church, be at the right place at the right time”…etc. That is quite the load to bear. When we are supposed to have peace and joy in His Spirit, we are fretting if we are doing it right.

I want to dissect the word “sanctification”. Anything can be sanctified- food, a car, a person, a day, a TV program, or us. It means to be separated. The Greek word used here is hagiasmos (from the root word “Holy”- hagiazo). It is quite simple- it is the act of being set apart for holiness.

So what is holiness? Jesus set that example: He hung with sinners to share the gospel, but he himself did not sin. He hung out with his Father in prayer because he loved too talk to Him. When the Spirit told him to do something, he did it.

The rest of this chapter gives some practical application. To ponder God’s will for us requires spending time with Him, but the path starts by not acting like this world does today.

“Hooking up” is touted as normal- be abnormal.
Living in debt is expected- be weird.
Movies today are laced with vengeance- seek forgiveness.

Do it because Jesus set that example for us.

In modifying behavior and moving it towards doing what the bible says is right, you have started living God’s will for yourself- your sanctification.

Words-Ephesians 4:29

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

The second half of chapter 4 gives many great practices we can employ in or Christian faith - be nice, don’t steal, take care of the poor. Then the Lord asks us to make sure we talk nice to each other.


What a challenge this can be for me at times, especially to those I love the most. Lately I have been trying to guard and even plan every word I say. I tend to want center stage and have that witty comment, but there are times when that comment comes at the expense of someone else. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good laugh, but lately I have wanted to be extra careful to say things that encourage and build up.


Some have used this verse to say we should not swear. I don’t think that is even in focus here. When someone says “shucks”, “darn”, “heck”, or “fricken” when they are angry, what has changed? It is the cause of those words that is at issue, not the words themselves. I know many will disagree, and that is okay, but if given a choice I would rather utter a hundred 4-letter words than to say one thing hurtful to another person (in reality, the best choice is to do neither).


Some have also stated that this verse means we should not use strong words. But if strong words that call out a person’s actions leads to their repentance, is that not imparting grace?


The key word here is “corrupt.” It is a very descriptive word: Think of opening the fridge, grabbing that carton of milk, wanting to pour some on your fresh bowl of cereal. But when you do it is smelly and chunky. The cereal is useless and has probably taken your appetite with it. That is the word “corrupt” (Sapros is the Greek.)


When the words we use are useless, serving no other purpose than our own, then we are corrupt in our speech.


This goes far beyond any swear word.


Shalom

Foolishness

1 Cor 3:18-19

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.

I read that a few times, and it is a tall order Paul is asking us to do. Keeping this passage in context Paul is talking about the separation of body and spirit. In Corinth the practices done in that community were very sensual. There was the thought that “I’m saved, I can do as I want”. “No” Paul writes. Slaves are not allowed to do as they wish.

WHAT? I’m not a slave. If you have asked Jesus to be your LORD, you asked to become both a child of God and a slave (by choice). Sound offensive? (Look at 1 Cor 7:22, Romans 6:18) If that is true, then we are not our own. My life is His. And if it is His, then I do what He wants me to do. So what is that? What the word says- Love God, love others, do not sin.

In this world there is so much that can draw us away to where we no longer trust the value of God’s Word. When that happens, we start trusting in the wisdom of man: psychology, evolution, solve your problems with a pill, ”I’m from the government, I’m here to help…” It’s okay to do as the world does as long as no one gets hurt, right?

Paul says to not be deceived. The current age he was living in had wisdoms that drew then into sensual perversions. We don’t have that issue today, right? Our TV is safe, right? If the movie is PG it is safe, right? The internet is… never mind.

If we agree with God on this, we will stand out like a sore thumb. We will dress differently by choice, we will talk differently by choice, we will entertain ourselves differently by choice. This will cause others to think we are judging, when we are, but not others actions, only our own.

Final thought: I choose to be a slave, in doing so, I look to God for wisdom, not this world. In doing so a rift is revealed that I adopt wisdom that looks foolish to the world, but in reality it is the wisdom of God. I want that!

Shalom.

Judges 17:6

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

One of the most dangerous realities of being whom we are! It took only one generation after entering the promised land for Israel to lose the knowledge of who they were (Judges 2:10). History has proven that every generation is faced with this 

issue. We have it today.

I lived in a small town in MN for 20 years. I helped the youth pastor with the bible studies of one church I attended. We had kids came in (pre-teens), who sat in the class and honesty said they had never seen a Bible.

When this happens we get a generation that grows up and does what is right in their own eyes: a generation that does not care about a child in the womb, about the sanctity marriage, or moral issues. Why should they, they have no basis for those moral decisions. Law becomes a manipulation of issues for personal gain.

We are to shine like lights into this darkness. Not with judgment, but with bold love. Taking a stance in the lunchrooms, the watering holes, the neighborhood, the city council meetings, PTA meetings, and the like. I know Satan is doing so.

Shalom

Luke 24:44-45

Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

Jesus opened up their minds to understand the scriptures, to see Him in the pages of the Old Testament. I think when they read from the prophet Isaiah they could now see what Jesus meant.

Example:
Isaiah 9:6, For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
We can read this and see Jesus in this passage- He was a child; He brought us peace; He is Mighty God!

Could it be the Holy Spirit has opened our minds too?

I think He has! Way Cool!

1 Peter 1:10-12

Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

I loved playing football. My twin brother Darryl and I got so good at reading each other, we were not allowed on the same team. It did not matter if I was the quarterback or he was, we knew when and where to throw the ball. What a feeling of letting go of that ball knowing when the other turned around, it would be right there. It was a blast being a part of something bigger than just me.

That is where we are in Christ! We are a part of something much bigger than ourselves. We might not realize that the work God has given us to do is to lay a foundation for another to rise up (like being a mom, or a bible study teacher in a prison, or driving someone around weekly, monthly or year, whatever). You may be throwing a pass of faith for someone else to catch. 

The prophets of old were throwing passes knowing that the ball would be there when we turned around. They wrote about Jesus in the pages of the Old Testament because the spirit of Christ in them testified they were a part of something bigger than themselves. We caught it when we accepted Christ.

Now we “pass” it on in love.

Start this week off big- you are on a team; a family team: an eternal team!

Shalom.

Psalm 45

Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One, with Your glory and Your majesty.

Hebrews 1:8-9 attribute Psalm 45:6 to Jesus. But I want to share about the power of verse 3.

When I was a kid I had several instances where I was left alone and was bullied. For some reason, I was targeted by two brothers called the Mason’s. They lived on the corner near my school and I would have to walk by their house.

I would take different paths home through back yards. When they chased me I would run until I could not breathe. There were times when I was playing and the bullies saw me and started after me. To this day I have no idea what I did to be marked for their morbid pleasure. I was never really hurt, just pushed around and taunted. The intent was to terrify, and it worked! 

One day I told my Dad and we went to the bully’s house. I never would have done that by myself. It did not help, they continued until I moved away, but that time I went to the door reminds me of this verse. God the Father is telling Jesus to gird His sword. With the knowledge that God is by our side, with all power, the taunting of a bully fails to terrify.

Will I get scared again? Possibly. But I can rest in the knowledge that He never leaves me or forsakes (Hebrews 13:5) me and He puts his Angels about me (Psalm 34:7).

We serve an Awesome God!

PS- I am thankful for those events, although Satan meant to hurt, those times developed compassion in ways reading about it could not do.

Shalom

Messianic Psalm

Melody suggested I post these here too. So, here goes:

Psalm 40:5, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

On Friday I presented Hebrews 10:7, which quotes Psalm 40:8. Psalm 40 is another Messianic Psalm. If read as if Jesus is speaking, a beautiful picture of a God who loves us is revealed.

God’s thoughts towards us cannot be recounted! Ask any parent how many times they catch themselves thinking about their kids: When at work, while at the store, before bed, when they are at school, etc. God thinks of you too.

He loves you.

Shalom

Now that I have this down, I got some things I want to write.

Hi Family. Hope all is well. I am actually doing this Blog/BLOG/blog? because one of my daughters, I forgot which one, made a comment on facebook that no one is blogging anymore.

So... I will try.

Content:

As the title indicates, this will be random, but hopefully not stupid. Humorous, but not silly. Okay, that will be up to the reader.

Here goes...

It was a dark and stormy night....

Wait, that has been done already.

Have you ever looked at a litter of puppies? 5-10 baby dogs just waiting to eat a pair of shoes. Why do they develop as they do? One grows up strong, dominant, while another wets when looked at cross eyed. Most just get along and are average pups. But the question in my head is, what is the driving force in the make up of the litter? I have no answers, and I picked dogs because we can't ask them. Not even Caesar Milan, aka "The Dog Whisperer", could tell me the causal factoring.

It just makes me wonder that the mental makeup of a dog is woven before the dog is even born. It's temperament completed before it comes out of momma, just like it's color, DNA structure for how big it will grow to be, how susceptible to disease it will is, etc.

External factors will adjust the final outcome. Poor food will increase sickness, being beaten will destroy it's psyche. (Have you ever spelled a word so bad that not even spell check can figure out what your trying to write? Phsyche was just that word for me. It took me a few minutes to find out how to spell that- That is the Chicago School system delivering it's best!!)

Why am I thinking about this? I am in Canada away from most duties I have done for 20 years. I have no house to take care of, other than a lawn mow now and then, clean my dishes and vacuum once a week, so I have had time to ponder. And ponder I have.

When close to something for so long, it becomes normal. Looking outside at everyone wondering why they are not like I am is interesting. I have been in church for most of my adult life. I became a Jesus follower when I was 19. In these 27 years I have lead bible studies, witnessed, went on mission trips, taught in Israel, and even pastored a church. Looking outward I wonder why many do not follow after God.

In 27 years of study I have concluded that there is only one God and He presents himself to us in Nature, in others, and in His Word. He is always present and is qualified to say that He loves us to death. But, although I will go to my grave declaring this truth and searching it out, I must say I have backed away from the fervor I had 27 years ago.

Being away from fellowship and not being tied into a church I am watching this world and seeing what is does on a Sunday. Wow, it is crazy how many people could care less about God.

Why?

Could some of it have something to do with the dogs?

Why is one child obedient, another a renegade? Talk to parents, they will say they did most things the same, yet one child is vastly different then the other. My own siblings are no different. Not going into detail, but I am vastly different than my brother Duane. Duane is bold, strong jawed, can see so much horror and survives. I watch a Hallmark commercial and I tear up. Wuz up wit dat? I did not want to be a baby?

Could it be, like the puppies, certain parts of my mental and emotional self was developed before I ever had any say in it?

That is all. I think I will go down to the pet store and look at dogs that remind me of Mindi. All this talk of puppies....